Berhampur: The family members of the UK-based Odia couple and their two children, who went missing in the devastating flash floods and landslides in Nepal on Aug 26, have been eagerly waiting for a “positive message”, as a massive search is going on.Jitendra Manmath Padhy, whose sister Surabhi, her husband Santosh Sahu (46) and two children, Spandan (18) and Syna (13), went missing, said their last news was of them completing the immigration process in the Chinese office for Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. “There has been no further update from them since then. We believe they may be on the Chinese side, and hopefully, we will get to know about their whereabouts soon. We are in constant touch with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK, and Nepalese authorities,” said Padhy, who hails from Berhampur, but settled in Navi Mumbai.The officials of South London Sanatan Mandir and Community Centre have also been in touch with the family members of the Odia families and UK govt to know their whereabouts, he added.Upendra Sahu, uncle of Surabhi, said they were shocked to know about them. “We only prayed to God for a miracle and positive news,” said Upendra of Digapahandi in Ganjam district.According to their relatives, the family had gone to Nepal for the Mansarovar Yatra with others on Aug 22. Till the morning of Aug 26, their mobile phones were active.Daughter of Manmath Padhy, a retired scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Surabhi got married to Santosh, who hails from Parvathipuram in Andhra Pradesh, in 2006 and shifted in the UK. She was crowned Miss India UK in 2021, while being very active in the community work there. The Padhy family is now settled in Mumbai. Surabhi’s father was very stressed and did not say anything.
